The Suitability of Different Clay Resources in Respect to Form Geopolymeric Binders

Abstract
So called geopolymers or geopolymeric binders and ce­ments are made by means of an alkaline activation of materials reac­tive in this respect. Such material has to consist of a certain amount of silicate and aluminate phases which can be dissolved by the alka­line medium. In the consequence stable polymeric networks of alumosilicates will be formed. Metakaolins and alumo-siliceous fly ashes, in particular, have by now achieved noteworthy significance. The search for alternative low cost or high available materials may lead among other things to “normal clays”. This material is widely available all over the world and may show certain reactivity after a thermal activation process. This investigation focuses the influence of the clay composition on the geopolymer performance. Clays with different kind and amount of the clay mineral (illite, montmorillonite, and kaolinite) as well as side minerals (calcite and dolomite) were investigated.